Court Affirms Lawal as Ogun ADC Guber Candidate

The Federal High Court in Nigeria, presided over by Justice Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi, has ruled in favor of Lawal, a close associate of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, declaring him the legitimate governorship candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun State. The judgment, marked FHC/AB/CS/97/2026, addressed a prolonged leadership and candidature dispute within the party, which had seen rival factions claiming the governorship ticket.

The court found that Lawal's emergence complied with the Electoral Act and the ADC constitution, affirming that the primary election producing him as the candidate was validly conducted and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Consequently, the court ordered INEC to officially recognize Lawal as the ADC's flag bearer.

Ogun State ADC Chairman Femi Soluade hailed the ruling as a victory for democracy, while Lawal expressed gratitude for the verdict, describing it as divine intervention after months of uncertainty.